Car tire break-up in Nokian reshuffle

Helsinki – Following job and production cuts at its Nokia, Finland plant in late September, Nokian Tyre has now announced the break-up of its passenger car tire operations.

The move is part of a shake-up of the operational structure and management-team responsibilities to help restore profitability, the Finnish tire-maker announced on 20 Oct.

Management changes include the departure of head of Nokian’s passenger car tire operations, Rami Helminen, who is to “continue his career elsewhere.”

In the new management structure, said Nokian, the former operations of passenger car tires will be “disintegrated and reorganised” with product management, R&D and sales functions reporting directly to CEO.

Procurement, demand and supply management together with logistics and customer service functions will be part of a new Supply Operations unit.

“The new operational model is a right step on our path back to profitable growth,” said Ari Lehtoranta, president and CEO of Nokian Tyres.

Former vice president, production and production technology, Esa Eronen has now been nominated as vice president, Supply Operations.

Also, former vice presidente Nokian Heavy Tyres, Pontus Stenberg, has been nominated as vice president for sales to lead the global sales and sales development unit.

Manu Salmi, formerly procurement vice president, will now serve as vice president, Nokian Heavy Tyres.